Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is located at the heart of the park, just west of Lake Shore Drive. As one of only ten free zoos in the U.S. the Lincoln Park Zoo is a runner’s Mecca; the 7:00 am gate opening seduces plenty of outdoor enthusiasts, who can be found pounding the pavement well before sunrise. While this isn’t nearly as expansive as the suburban Brookfield Zoo, you’ll still find some of the usual suspects (lions, tigers and bears, oh my!). Bonus: Lincoln Park’s annual Zoo Lights is one of the raddest holiday light shows you’ll see this winter, not least of all because of the free hot chocolate. Kidding. Kind of.